Gastric Bypass

What is gastric bypass surgery?

Gastric bypass is a procedure that involves changing the way your stomach and small intestine absorb and digest food. After you receive gastric bypass surgery, you consume less food, which means you also absorb less fat and fewer calories than before.

Gastric bypass surgery has two main steps. Dr. Snow first makes your stomach smaller by dividing it into two separate sections: a smaller upper section and a larger lower section. After the surgery, the food you eat is directed into the smaller section of your stomach, so you feel full more easily.

The second step of gastric bypass surgery is the bypass, which means Dr. Snow changes the path of your digestive system. He connects your small intestine to the new lower section of your stomach. As a result, food bypasses a certain portion of your small intestine, so you absorb less of it.

Dr. Snow performs the gastric bypass using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques.

What are the advantages of gastric bypass surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery can help you lose more weight—and faster—than other bariatric surgery techniques. Accordingly, gastric bypass improves obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure in less time than other surgeries. Within a year of the operation, many patients lose at least 60% of their excess body weight, and often as much as 80%, while maintaining these results for years to come.

Part of the reason gastric bypass surgery is so effective is the specific way it promotes weight loss. While other procedures reduce the size of your stomach and allow you to feel full more easily, gastric bypass also changes the way your body absorbs food. Not only do you eat smaller meals after gastric bypass, but your body doesn’t use as many calories from those smaller meals.

How do I get the best possible results from gastric bypass surgery?

Though gastric bypass can help you experience significant weight loss, it’s not a miracle cure. As with all bariatric surgery, gastric bypass requires a commitment to dietary and lifestyle changes to be fully effective.

Dr. Snow guides you on the dietary changes necessary to lose weight after gastric bypass and feel your best. It’s important to get enough fluid and protein, and you may not be able to tolerate dairy products or greasy food after the surgery. Dr. Snow also helps ensure you get enough nutrients, which may require taking supplements.

To learn more about gastric bypass, schedule a consultation at Snow Bariatric Center by calling or using the online booking tool.